In the Old city of Aleppo, displaced return with good will

“Our good will is to preserve and restore the old souks and khans to what it had been for centuries”

By: Vivian Tou'meh | 26 Jan 2017

“I used to produce materials for building not for destruction”, said Mohamad, one of the people whose lives have been deeply, and irreversibly damaged in the old city of Aleppo.

Before the crisis, Mohamad owned six stores in Souk al-Nahhaseen (coppersmiths) in Bab al-Nasr neighborhoud, where he was producing industrial iron for the construction raw materials.

His production was about 100 tons of industrial iron per month, he used to export his products to other Syrian governorates and different Arab countries. His monthly income was four million Syrian pounds at that time (80,000$), the equivalent of 40 million Syrian pounds now.

“I used to produce materials for building not for destruction”

Mohamad left his stores when the fighting erupted in the old city in September 2012. He had spent all of his savings during his displacement, as he did not find a job.

The massive destruction inside the old city including more than 1,600 khans and souks left nothing for its residents. Souk al-Nahhaseen, located 800 meters far from Aleppo citadel, was built in 1539. Before its destruction, it included more than 80 traditional and modern shoe-trading and production shops.

For hours, Mohamed walked through the widely massive destruction witnessing the burned debris of what were formerly historic “khans” which for centuries traded and sold special items.

“Our good will is to preserve and restore the old souks and khans to what it had been for centuries”, Mohamad said.